Time

I received a gift yesterday. A mother who lost a son to an overdose sent me a picture of her youngest son. He is finally coming up on 9 months clean and sober. He has been in treatment the entire time. The change in him physically is amazing. He goes from looking like a emaciated little kid to a grown man. 


His brother was not as lucky. He had everything going for him. He was going to meetings, had a sponsor, was working the steps and being of service to others. He was also about to turn pro as an extreme wrestler. One night after work he decided to go for it one more time. He started drinking and then moved on to the real 'stuff'. We found him dead in his room the next morning.


What was far worse than finding him dead was the next day when his family came to collect his things. I felt like my heart was being ripped out and eaten in front of me. His parents, brother and grandmother were beyond devastation. 


We never think of the ripples in the pond when we use. We are looking for the good time, not the look on our parents, friends, significant others faces when they are told we have overdosed. Remember the ripples the next time you want to use.